Training & Nutrition - Trainer blowouts, what causes them?

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adam_mac84
10-04-10, 06:36 PM
I was riding my trainer tonight. I am usually a rollers guy, but wanted to get some higher intensity work in to help a bit with my XC short commings.

Anyhow, i am riding 23c tire, 120 psi (within recommendations), at moderate intensity with occasional 'sprints' of higher resistance maintaining cadence.

26 minutes into the ride KABOOM, thought it was a drive by, and now this:

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh252/adam_mac84/100_0003.jpg


On a borrowed bike no less, now i owe him a tire and tube.

I am 220# FWIW, moderatly strong rider i guess... tire was warm, and the fluid 'radiator' was pretty warm as well, but i figure this is normal, but like i said, i usually just do 'base' miles in the off season with the rollers to keep the legs moving

malux
10-04-10, 07:31 PM
that boom must have been something to hear. At least the tube will be cheap..
adam_mac84
10-04-10, 07:55 PM
Yea, i thought i might have made some gang bangers mad, but then i realized that i live in a community with nearly all 75+ y.o. people who give me weird looks when i strut outside in my lycra... lol.

I definitely will stick to the rollers if this is going to be a consistent thing with me. Unfortionatly i cannot work as well with speed changes and standing hard efforts with my rollers

merlin55
10-04-10, 10:02 PM
increase the tire pressure, and reduce the amount that the roller pushes into the tire. Excessive deflection of the tire makes the tire get hot which makes the tire weak....then boom
adam_mac84
10-05-10, 05:22 AM
reduce the amount that the roller pushes into the tire.

I will have to check if this is an option on my trainer... it is a traveltrac fluid trainer.

I was thinking of lowering the pressure so that when the tire heats up it would not increase pressure to a failure level. But what you say makes sense as well
malux
10-05-10, 10:21 AM
Yea, i thought i might have made some gang bangers mad, but then i realized that i live in a community with nearly all 75+ y.o. people who give me weird looks when i strut outside in my lycra... lol.

You might have killed someone with that boom :) Was there an ambulance outside afterwards? ;)
deep_sky
10-05-10, 04:42 PM
You might also consider getting a wheel with a proper trainer tire on it, and use that for trainer work.
adam_mac84
10-05-10, 05:54 PM
http://www.performancebike.com/images/performance/products/1500/40-4136-NCL-ANGLE.jpg

this is the trainer i have. i cannot adjust how hard the tire pushes on the roller. My wife rides with no problems but is about 80# lighter than me. I will have to try a trainer tire, but i am not sure how different it will be, because the tire wasn't worn out necessarily on the other tire i was using
merlin55
10-05-10, 08:15 PM
you need to run at least 115 psi, which will reduce the flex in the sidewall....and prevent blowouts...if you buy a larger tire like a 25 mm or 28 mm if it will fit, that will also increase life.

Years ago people were flipping their Ford Explorers when their tires blewout...in most cases due to underflated tires getting hot and then failing...inflation is what prevents the tire from excessive sidewall flex...which is what overheats the tire